Ferguson is Upgrading their Fleet, Electrada helping with EV Program

A unique electrification project is poised to help three industry leaders develop fleet charging infrastructure, deploy EV fleet units and streamline a fleet electrification pilot that will surely set the precedent for how EV migration can be seamlessly executed.

Through a first-of-its-kind collaboration, Ferguson, Holman and Electrada announced a vehicle electrification program that delivers a comprehensive fleet management and electrification solution for streamlining the development of the necessary charging and energy management infrastructure. The project enables Ferguson, North America’s leading distributor of plumbing and HVAC supplies, to deploy medium- and heavy-duty all-electric vehicles throughout California.

Electrada is a Cincinnati-based developer, owner and operator of electric vehicle infrastructure and related energy assets, serving multiple transportation segments using its unique 360 Charging-as-a-Service solution. Electrada partners with fleets to expertly design and build a 100% tailored EV charging solution, covering all of the investment required to deliver an electric fuel program to your fleet for a decade or longer. Electrada’s 360 Charging-as-a-Service solution delivers an electric-fueled cost per mile that’s lower than liquid fuel, from day one. Our clients just pay for their electric fuel needs – with no disruption to their operations. Electrada, founded in 2020 by energy, mobility, and utility experts, is a BlackRock Real Assets portfolio company, established to build and support high-performance EV infrastructure across North America.

Historic Fleet Transformation.

“Electrada couldn’t be more thrilled to work with a company as forward-thinking about sustainable transportation as Ferguson. We’re making a long-term program investment commitment, providing and operating all of the infrastructure, while eliminating the fuel price and operational risk of Ferguson’s historic fleet transformation effort because that’s the core of what we do, that’s the essence of 360 Charging-as-a-Service,” said Kevin Kushman, CEO, Electrada. “We developed a deep understanding of Ferguson’s electrification needs based on their location-specific, real-world use cases. The solution not only provides the reliable electric fuel infrastructure that Ferguson needs to successfully accomplish their fleet electrification goals but will also reduce fuel cost per mile from day one versus fossil fuel.”

Holman, a global automotive services organization, delivers a unique range of automotive-centric services including industry-leading fleet management and leasing; vehicle fabrication and upfitting; component manufacturing and productivity solutions; powertrain distribution and logistics services; commercial and personal insurance and risk management; and retail automotive sales as one of the largest privately owned dealership groups in the United States.

Seamless Integration.

This collaboration with Ferguson is the first to leverage Holman and Electrada’s holistic electrification-as-a-service model, thus providing inclusive fleet management services along with electric fuel and infrastructure development, significantly streamlining fleet electrification and allowing organizations to scale their electrification programs expeditiously. Key to this electrification project is Holman and Electrada’s innovative strategic partnership that helps North American fleet operators accelerate, scale, and seamlessly integrate electric vehicles into their fleet mix.

This unique electrification program aligns with Ferguson’s overall corporate sustainability strategy as the company is committed to sustainable transportation and reducing the fleet’s carbon footprint. The scope of this phase is highlighted by the 30 class 6 through 8 all-electric delivery trucks from Peterbilt and Freightliner that will be integrated into Ferguson’s fleet in the months ahead. The project also includes the charging infrastructure from Electrada to serve five depot locations across the company’s operating footprint in California.

Together, Holman and Electrada offer fleet operators a comprehensive, fully capitalized (vehicle and charging infrastructure) fleet management and performance-guaranteed electrification solution that allows organizations to simplify their transition to electric vehicles. This unique approach to fleet electrification provides a predictably priced contract that eliminates the significant upfront capital investment and long-term energy cost risks that often prevent organizations from adopting a robust EV program.